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CITY LIGHTS
Nunavut's capital of Iqaluit can easily be strolled
on foot. Visit the igloo-shaped Anglican church
and the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum with
its Inuit artefacts, as well as carvings and
prints for purchase in the gift shop. The
Unikkaarvik Visitor Centre features wildlife
and cultural exhibits, while the Nunavut
Legislative Assembly building displays
temporary art shows alongside their
permanent northern art collection including
the Legislative Mace carved from a narwhal
tusk. Check the Iqaluit Visitors Guide for
local events and places to stay, eat and shop
(www.iqaluit.ca/visitors).
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Nunavut has five national parks, 15 territo-
rial parks and special places, four Canadian
Heritage Rivers, as well as 11 migratory bird
sanctuaries and wildlife reserves. But in
reality, untouched Arctic wilderness starts
on the doorstep of every hamlet.
From June through September there is
hiking, kayaking, whitewater rafting and
marine mammal watching for narwhal,
bowhead and beluga whales as well as walrus,
seals and polar bears. Many of these activities
can be experienced on day trips from
communities. Sport fishing is popular, with
fishing lodges and camps accessible by boat
and float planes. In winter, there is ice fishing
and travelling across the frozen tundra and
sea ice by snowmobile, on cross-country skis
and via dogsled. Choose a hamlet hotel base,
camp on the tundra with an outfitter, or enjoy
the comfort of luxury wilderness lodges
including Arctic Watch, Arctic Haven and
Bathurst Inlet Lodge (www.weberarctic.com;
www.bathurstarctic.com).
More adventurous travellers can canoe
the Soper River in Katannilik Territorial Park
on Southern Baffin Island or the Thelon
River on the Barren Lands. Rock climb
granite peaks in Auyuittuq National Park,
backcountry ski amid Clyde River's sheer
rock walls, or paddle Alexandra Fjord and
hike in Quttinirpaaq National Park on
Ellesmere Island (www.blackfeather.com).
HERITAGE AND CULTURE
Throughout Nunavut are sites once used by
nomadic Inuit. Stone rings marking the
locations of skin tents used in summers are
commonly spotted. In Qaummaarviit Territor-
ial Park, near Iqaluit, semi-subterranean sod
houses used by Thule people between 1200
and 1700 AD can be seen (www.nunavut
parks.com/parks-special-places/).
There are also many Hudson's Bay
Company trading posts, remnants from the
19
th
century whaling era and, on Beechey
Island, the graves of three men from Sir
John Franklin's search for the Northwest
Passage. The Northwest Passage can be
explored on expedition cruises staffed
with artists, academics and Inuit
(www.quarkexpeditions.com/en/arctic;
www.adventurecanada.com).
Carving is common throughout Nunavut,
but Cape Dorset is the epicentre of iconic
Inuit sculptures that have been gifted
to presidents, popes and royalty
(www.dorsetfinearts.com). Their print-
making is also acclaimed. The Kenojuak
Cultural Centre, an art studio and exhibition
space, covers seven decades of printmaking.
The print centre in Pangnirtung is also
world-renowned (www.uqqurmiut.ca).
Special Events
www.travelnunavut.ca/
nunavut_members_cats/events-festivals
APRIL
• NATTIQ FROLICS, KUGLUKTUK
• PAKALLAK TYME, RANKIN INLET
• TOONIK TYME, IQALUIT
MAY
• HAMLET DAY, MOST COMMUNITIES
• OMINGMAK FROLICS, CAMBRIDGE BAY
JUNE – JULY
• ALIANAIT ARTS FESTIVAL, IQALUIT
JULY
• CANADA DAY, TERRITORY-WIDE
• NUNAVUT DAY, TERRITORY-WIDE
AUGUST
• NUNAVUT ARTS FESTIVAL, CAMBRIDGE BAY
ARCTIC BAY • DESTINATION CANADA/MICHELLE VALBERG
